Sep 23, 2011 | By Tim Stoddart

What is Roxicodone? – How Does It Effect The Body and Brain?

Painkiller Addiction

what is roxicodone?

Street Names for Roxicodone

Roxies, Oxies, Blues, Thirties, Percolone, OxyIR

Synopsis of Roxicodone

Roxicodone is a strong narcotic pain reliever that belong’s to a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids are synthetic, laboratory-created substances that produce effects seen in natural opiates such as morphine and codeine, however they are not derived from the opium plant. Roxicodone is a brand name for the generic opioid, oxycodone and is available in fifteen and thirty milligram strengths. Roxicodone works by dulling the limbic system, which is the area of the brain where we perceive pain. If taken at higher doses, the drug can also affect other essential bodily systems such as the respiratory system and the circulatory system. Roxicodone doesn’t contain any OTC analgesics. This means it has no Tylenol, Aspirin, or ibuprofen. This substance is pure oxycodone. It also isn’t extended release and has immediate effects. Therefore, Roxicodone is easier to abuse than other oxycodone products.

Roxicodone is most commonly used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain and can be used prior to medical or surgical procedures to alleviate fear and to sedate patients. The normal adult dose of Roxicodone (Roxycodone) is 10 to 30 mg every 4 hours as needed for pain. The dose must be individually adjusted according to severity of pain, patient response and patient size.

There are many who believe that Roxicodone and Oxycontin are the same drug. While both contain the active ingredient oxycodone they are not the same drug. The main difference between the two is the amount of oxycodone that is contained in each. Roxicodone contains between 15 to 30 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride. Oxycontin contains about 80 mg. While Roxicodone is less addictive in comparison to drugs such as heroin and morphine, it still is a dangerous drug and it can produce withdrawal symptoms similar to those seen in more potent opioids and opiates.

History

Ironically, Roxicodone was first first developed as an alternative to those two highly addictive, but highly effective, pharmaceuticals – heroin and morphine which were commonly used in medicine before and during World War I. Morphine had been used for many centuries by many cultures for pain relief, but it had highly addictive properties and many people who had used the drug for pain relief during and after medical and surgical procedures. In the late 1800’s, scientists had formulated heroin as a non-addictive alternative, but unfortunately it was discovered that it was more addictive than morphine. First synthesized in 1916 and made available to the public in 1939, oxycodone was introduced and proved unpopular until the introduction of Percodan (oxycodone and aspirin) in 1950. Since the introduction of Percodan, different formulations of oxycodone—including Roxicodone—have been formulated and made available to consumers.

Statistics

Since 2010, Roxicodone abuse exploded. With other oxycodone products, like OxyContin, coming under stricter regulation, the substance suddenly became the go to drug for addicts everywhere. While there are not a multitude of facts about Roxicodone addiction, there do not happen to be many statistics about the drug either. Instead, find general oxycodone statistics here:

  • Between 2006 and 2011, oxycodone products led to a total of 3,733 deaths.
  • In 2008, there were 14,800 overdoses due to oxycodone products.
  • According to the American Academy of Neurology, 50% of patients who take opioids as prescribed for over three months remain on opioids five years later.

The growth in legal prescriptions of oxycodone has increased it’s availability in the United States, and a greater amount of the drug is now being diverted to street users. Oxycodone is a schedule II narcotic analgesic. Schedule II drugs have a high risk of abuse but are also considered safe for accepted medical treatment protocols. However, major sources of oxycodone for sale on the black market include:

  • Forged prescriptions.
  • ‘Doctor-shopping’ to obtain prescriptions.
  • Pharmacy break-ins and robberies.
  • Diversion by unethical doctors and dentists (pill-mills).

How Is Roxicodone Administered?

The most common method of administration of Roxicodone is orally by tablet, however users will also crush them or smoke them. If they crush the pills the individual can either snort the powder or create a solution with water and inject it. Sniffing Roxicodone will produce a high within minutes. By administering intravenously, the individual will feel a high within seconds. Smoking Roxicodone is another popular way of abusing them. Users will smoke the pill from tinfoil. This is similar to how people smoke heroin.

Roxicodone And The Brain

Roxicodone can have a multitude of effects on the brian. The so-called “feel-good”  neurotransmitter, dopamine, is a main player in the development of opioid addiction. Dopamine plays a vital role in movement, motivation, reward, and learning. While opioids are responsible for the analgesic (pain-relieving) properties that make them medicinal, taking too much of them can cause an unnatural spike in dopamine activity. The human brain makes a connection between the action that prompted the dopamine spike and the reward that followed it. This connection serves to encourage that same behavior in the future. Continued Roxicodone abuse increases dopamine activity in a way that other healthy activities can’t, and so as addiction progresses, obtaining and using oxycodone becomes a priority.

Why Do People Get Addicted To Roxicodone?

There can be a multitude of factors that one develops an addiction, and there is usually not a single reason that one becomes addicted. Often, addictions can form from a combination of things including:

  • Genes – Research has found that addiction is generational and can run in families. If an individual has a direct relative that is addicted, risks of becoming addicted are greater for the individual.
  • Environment – Children who are brought up in homes with chaos and addiction are more likely to become addicted and believe that it is “normal.”
  • Brain Chemistry – As Roxicodone produces its effects by acting upon the brain and central nervous system body, it’s been theorized that certain individuals are lacking the proper functioning of these parts of the body. In response, some individuals may abuse Roxicodone or other narcotics in order to make up for this imbalance.
  • Psychological – Individuals who have un-diagnosed or un-treated mental illnesses are more likely to become addicts in the long run in order to self-medicate their symptoms.

Short-Term Effects of Roxicodone

Since Roxicodone has oxycodone as its’ main active ingredient, the short-term effects that users experience are  similar to the effects seen in similar prescription painkillers. Initially, users of Roxicodone may experience short-term effects such as an improvement of mood and the reduction of anxiety. Additionally, the drug effectively blocks pain messages to the brain and since it helps slow down the respiratory system, Roxicodone can act as a sleep aid to a degree.

However, there are some significant short-term effects that have a negative effect on users. These effects can include dry mouth, flushing of the skin, nausea, vomiting, heavy feelings in the arms and legs and itching. Additionally, Roxicodone can cause substantial drowsiness and confusion which can last up to several hours. In larger doses, the drug can significantly slow down heart rate and respiration to dangerous levels.

Long-Term Effects of Roxicodone

When prescribed by a doctor, Roxicodone is only to be used as a short-term pain relief solution. If used for longer periods of time, or is chronically misused on a recreational or medical basis, users can experience long-term health problems. For example, oxycodone (the main ingredient in Roxicodone) is highly addictive physically, and users that continually take the drug will develop a tolerance to it – a need to take more of the substance in order to achieve the desired effects.

With increased physical dependence, users will become physically ill if they decrease the amount of the drug taken or stop use entirely. With increased long-term use, users are more likely to develop complications including difficulty breathing, lightheaded-ness, as well as dizziness due to a lack of oxygen. Depending on the amount being used, the period of time it has been abused, the presence of other drugs in the body and any other medical issues, respiratory failure can also be a possibility as a result of misuse.

If users inject Roxicodone, it can cause scarring of the veins and eventually vein collapse. If users are not using clean needles, they are vulnerable to many infections and diseases. For example, users can develop boils or abscesses that can lead to amputation if not treated. Users can also develop soft-tissue infections and are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis or HIV. Additionally, users can experience substantial liver and kidney damage from misuse of the drug.

After long-term use of the drug, men may also experience a decreased level of testosterone or enlargement of the prostate. Other long-term effects include excessive sweating, swelling in the arms and legs, and chronic constipation. For women who are using Roxicodone, there are additional risks associated with its’ use. If women use Roxicodone during pregnancy, they are at an increased risk for suffering a miscarriage, have a premature delivery, or the child can be stillborn. Newborns of mothers who use and abuse the drug can be “born addicted” and also are at greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

In short, common long-term effects of Roxicodone can include:

  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Respiratory failure
  • Heart infection
  • Collapsed veins
  • Clogged blood vessels
  • Death

Addiction can take precedence in all area’s of the addict’s life. People that become addicted to Roxicodone may experience problems with:

  • Social relationships – Those addicted to Roxicodone will often begin to prioritize using and acquiring the substance over their relationships.
  • Employment or educational success  While in the grips of an addiction, attendance and performance at work and school may begin to decline with drug-seeking behaviors elevate.
  • Financial stability   Frequently while going through an addiction, individuals will spend all their resources including money on obtaining the drug. List paired with employment status can harm income and financial status.
  • Legal status – Most commonly, users addicted to Roxicodone will use it without a prescription from a Doctor which is illegal. Additionally, addicts often break the law to obtain money and resources for substances by theft.

Co-Occuring Disorders

Most addictions, including addiction to Roxicodone, co-exist with another mental illness. These co-occurring disorders can include:

  • Depressive disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Conduct disorders
  • Antisocial personality disorder
  • Schizophrenia

Overdose

Due to users developing a tolerance, user’s who take a higher dose of the medication each time it is administered have a higher risk of suffering from an overdose. It is wise to know symptoms of a Roxicodone overdose.

Symptoms of oxycodone overdose include:

  • Excessive sleepiness.
  • Slowed or stopped breathing.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fainting.
  • Limp or weak muscles.
  • Narrowing or widening of the pupils.
  • Cold, clammy skin.
  • Slow or stopped heartbeat.
  • Cyanosis (blue color of skin, fingernails, lips, or mouth area).
  • Loss of consciousness or coma.

If you feel that you or a loved one may be experiencing a Roxicodone overdose, do not wait, call 911 immediately.

Symptoms Of Roxicodone Addiction

If you feel a loved one may be struggling with a Roxicodone addiction, you must educate yourself of the symptoms to fully become aware.Symptoms of Roxicodone addiction can vary based upon the amount of the drug taken.

Symptoms of Roxicodone abuse may include:

  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Tampering with prescriptions
  • Nodding off
  • Confusion
  • Isolation from social events or pleasurable activities
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nervousness

Withdrawal Of Roxicodone

Opiate analgesics like Roxicodone are notorious for causing physical dependence among those who abuse them. When the body becomes physically dependent upon an opioid and the usage of the narcotic is stopped, very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can occur. In general, narcotics such as Roxicodone should not be abruptly discontinued. If you are suffering with Roxicodone addiction, it would be wise to seek out a detoxification program with fully-trained medical personnel that will be able to fully monitor and provide medications to alleviate symptoms. Many withdrawal symptoms can involve signs of central nervous system hyperactivity and will peak 48 to 72 hours after the last dose. Physical symptoms will be eliminated within a week but it may take longer to erase the psychological addiction.

The withdrawal symptoms associated with Roxicodone can include:

  • Chills
  • Body weakness
  • Runny nose
  • Joint pain
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Recovering from Roxicodone Abuse

iop therapyMany people begin to use Roxicodone in a very innocent fashion. They’re prescribed Roxicodone by their physician to manage a pain condition and take their pills as directed and it soon spirals out of control into a full blown addiction, tearing the lives apart of other’s around them.

If you or a loved one is in the grips of Roxicodone or other forms of painkiller addiction, undergoing drug treatment is extremely important in order to fully recover from the physical and psychological effects of dependence and abuse. Trying to quit Roxicodone on your own is strongly discouraged since the withdrawal symptoms experienced can be extremely uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening. If you are looking to quit prescription drugs for good, you first need to undergo medical detoxification to minimize withdrawal symptoms and become stable to transition to formal drug treatment.

Whether you pursue inpatient or outpatient drug treatment, the therapy and programming offered in drug treatment will give you the tools, encouragement and support you need to be able to resume your daily life and routine while maintaining a strong program of recovery. It is also highly recommended that you seek out support groups for prescription drug addiction so you can surround yourself with people who are experiencing similar situations to your own.

The road to recovery is difficult and traverse but there are many who have successfully reached long term sobriety. Methods of self-control can be taught during group therapy sessions. Individual and group evidence-based therapy sessions may utilize therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which seeks to determine the events, circumstances, or psychological causes of addiction while helping to find new and healthier ways to manage potential stressors or life triggers.

In short, inpatient facilities often offer a controlled environment usually needed in the early stages of recovery as well as a wide variety of therapies which can include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Counseling
  • Group Therapy
  • Holistic Therapy

Most treatment facilities offer 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day programs. The length of time an individual stays can depend on the severity of their addiction or insurance provider.

Addiction is a progressive disease, and if not treated can be fatal. In order to fully recover from its devastating effects you need to understand all the effects as well as all of your available options. As the leading provider of information regarding addiction and treatment on the internet, the experienced staff at Sober Nation are able to provide you with the information and support you need to break the cycle of addiction. Regardless of where you live, how much money you have, or how severe your addiction is, there is a treatment center that can help you recover. Don’t wait another day. Contact Sober Nation today.

Although the effects of Roxicodone addiction can be devistating, there are many who have achieved long term sobriety, and so can you.

For treatment options contact our 24 hour helpline at: 866-317-7050

One response to “What is Roxicodone? – How Does It Effect The Body and Brain?

  • If u feel like u are stuck in a rutt with nobody to turn to your not alone! A few months ago i was very addicted to pain killers it was great for my back pain but after awhile I no longer cared about how it made my back feel but only the state of mind the painkillers would put me in I was in love with that feeling slowly but surely I was hooked until I got help it was the best choice I ever made trust me ifu are useing it only gets worse never better so get the help that u need that’s the first step after u do that everything else will fall into place good luck on ur road to sobriety.

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